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Category Archives: Politics
Growth growth growth: who benefits?
This post is a continuation of my last one in which I argued that the economic policy of the British Government is a replica of ancient Mesopotamian imperial practice. This post gives greater detail.
Posted in Economics, Ethics, Politics, Society
Tagged capitalism, chaos, economics, expertise, gods, hierarchy, Mesopotamia, priests, Sacrifices
5 Comments
The holiness of nation states
This is the second of two responses to William Cavanaugh’s The Myth of Religious Violence. I wasn’t expecting it to be bang up to date with this morning’s news, but last night’s response by Liz Truss to a question about … Continue reading
War, religion and the nation state
This post is the first of two responses to William Cavanaugh’s excellent The Myth of Religious Violence (2009). It has challenged my understanding of the ‘religious wars’ of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; but it also sheds light on today’s … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Society
Tagged nation states, religion, war, wars of religion, William Cavanaugh
1 Comment
Strikes, poverty and Jesus
It looks like we are in for a few months of strikes. As more and more people are being financially squeezed, resistance is increasing. The media, almost universally, are treating them as demands for more money by the relatively affluent. … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Politics, Society
Tagged Galilee, Jesus, Jesus research, poverty, RMT, strikes, Tube strike
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Amos then and Britain now: the similarities
This post is part of my sermon for this coming Sunday, based on the Lectionary reading Amos 8:1-12. I’m publishing it now in case any preachers want to pinch bits. I summarise the context of Amos’ prophecies, what he was … Continue reading
Have you been blessed by the algorithm?
This post is a reflection on some of the issues raised by last week’s conference on ‘Information and Reality’ organised by the Science and Religion Forum. I learned a lot. You can choose: there is plenty to get enthusiastic about … Continue reading
Posted in Ethics, Politics, Society
Tagged algorithms, Big Data, determinism, Science and Religion Forum, transhumanism
2 Comments
Refugees and the hostile environment
The service at All Hallows Leeds yesterday was run by its group supporting refugees. We were told about the Home Office’s regulations and how we can help; but what had us in tears were the first-hand accounts by two people … Continue reading
Posted in Churches, Economics, Ethics, God, Politics, Society
Tagged asylum seekers, British Government, British values, demonising minorities, government, moral philosophy, refugees, welfare state
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Holy Week and the possibility of different values
Unusually, last week I watched the BBC’s Question Time. I was left feeling the issues were being debated strictly within the media echo chamber. Perhaps Holy Week is a good time to reflect on what it takes to hear voices … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Ethics, Politics, Society, Theology
Tagged Archbishop of Canterbury, Cleansing of the Temple, Climate change, Holy Week, Jesus, moral authority, Palm Sunday, Question Time, Ukraine
1 Comment
Girard, Johnson and how we love to hate scapegoats
British public opinion continues to be obsessed with the Prime Minister’s partying during Covid lockdowns. Critics have pointed out that more important things are going on. This post joins their ranks, from an angle that draws on René Girard’s work … Continue reading
Posted in Ethics, Politics, Society
Tagged Apollonius, Boris Johnson, Conservative Party, healing, Philostratus, Prime Minister, René Girard, scapegoats
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Extinction Rebellion and the disruption of normality
We are just over halfway through a series of protests by Extinction Rebellion, focused on London and planned to last for two weeks. In successive days traffic was blocked and colourful displays were erected to draw attention to an environmental … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Ethics, Politics, Society
Tagged cars, Climate crisis, COP26, disruption, Extinction Rebellion, fossil fuels, normality, protest, traffic
2 Comments